Method of making a wheel



G. A. LYON METHOD OF MAKING A WHEEL mae 20, 1939.

Original Filed July 20. 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 62-0205 AL 5527' Z rozv;

Paumdlmmiflab UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2.1mm manor-maximum mun-mummyAppllaflon July .MlehllIc-Llfl admin-1,1938

a u m m mm m m fi w m whmm mm m m mm w mmwmzm m Md m m m .w WWW mmmm mmmmm mm mm W W mmmm mm m m um mmmww Mm mmm m w umwwmmw mmmm mwmmmmmmw MM a m are 3;

I a 8 u u w w a 5% m m m M m m m my mm m WWW wmmm mm mm mm Mm 5m m mm mm mm m ma m m m mm m. Mam m mmu w m mw m t mmmmm E" m w m mwmmmwmmum wymmm mmmm r wmm ,m mm m f. mm mm m WW W m mm m i m mmmmm mm mm W m ammg... m m m mm M mm mm fimmmmummmm m m 3 m a m mfimpm mw m mam m m mmmmmmmm mm mmummm m m ww Figure 5 is a. cross-sectional elevational viewso or the left-hand portiqn of the rim and press erably reduced bygrinding or the like to provide a smooth surface over the circulararticle.

The second step of the process is to stamp a. rim ll, having across-sectional configuration as shown inFigure 3 from circular article3|. Rim ll includes a base flange l5, opposite side flanges I6, oppositeintermediate flanges ii and opposite edge portions 48. Base flange l5.as preformed includes an axially extending portion l9 and a slightlydepressed portion 28. It is to be understood that rim M may be preformedby any process well known or commonly employed by wheel manufacturers,since the precise preiorming process forms no part of this invention.

The die press in which the second step of the process takes placeincludes an inner male die member M, an outer female member 22, an innermale die member 23, and an outer female die .member 26. Die members 28,22, 23 and 26 have rim engaging surfaces which correspond to the varyingconfiguration of rim M, as may be seen in Figure 3. a

Male die member 2! may be composed oi a single block of material, but aswill be obvious to those skilled in the art, the outerfemale die mustcomprise a plurality of members in" order that it may be assembled anddisassembled over rim it.

In-Figure 4, I have shown female'die 22 compris-.

able means will be employedto hold these sections in their desiredposition in the press. Similarly, male die member 23 may becomposed of asingle block of material, but female fdie 24 comprises a similar set of"die sections as that employed for the outer female die 22.

Toform a wheel fastening flange on preformed rim H, the rim is placedover the male die mem-' ber 26 and the outer female die 22 is then movedinto position as shown in Figure 3 and clamped into place. Male diemember 23 is then moved into position as shown in Figure3fand the outerdie 24 is clamped into position. Outer die member 24 is provided with aninner lip 29 which is not provided on the corresponding female die 22.

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, lip 29 will causethe metal in base flange 55 to roll along the surface of male die member23 when axial pressure is applied in the die press. Due to the fact thata portion of base flange i5 is depressed as at and due to the abovereferred to action of lip 29, a portion of base flange 15 will becollapsed into a radially extending flange 2 from the application ofpressure to rim I l in,

the die press.

The portion of the various members at the end of the collapsingoperation as well as the precise form of rim I! is shown in Figure 5 ofthe drawings. The laterally extending portion 19 of base flange l5 nowassumes the position of the. ordinary base flange of atypical dropcenter rim. The drop center rim described above, however, is unique inthat it is provided with an integral depending flange which extendsradially inwardly and which may be used to mount the rim directly to theusual wheel supportingelement, such as the brake drum on an automobile.

The final step of the process is to cut an annu lar series of aperturesin radial flange 2 through which the usual wheel mounting bolts may beinsorted.

A modification of my invention is illustrated in Fig. '7. In collapsinga radial flange from the. base portion or a drop center rim, it issometimes desirable to avoid too abrupt a bending of the material. InFig. 7, the radial flange 2 collapsed from base portion 5 of a dropcenter rim, is bent at its inner edge to form an annular head 33.

The points on portions 9 and it of flange 2 which are adjacent baseflange 5 may be welded together if desired in order to prevent a separawtion of portions 9 and it understress.

From the above description, it will be seenthat I have provided anentirely new and novel methed for manufacturing wheels. Its extremesimplicity and economy of manufacture is self-evident. Many variationsin the details'of construction, or" course, willoccur to those skilledin the art. For example, the radially extending flange 2 of Figure 1. orthe radial (flange 2 of Figure 5 may be collapsed from any other portionof the rim, other than that shownin thedrawings without departing fromthe spirit and scope of iiivention. Although I have shown-the flangeexjv tending from the inner edge of the b"'seilan ge'- it may extendfrom a 'central portion he flange; or] even from the outer edge jthereoistill beemployed with equal succes While I have shown ;a; -.particularembo;lunentv of my invention, itewillgofucourse be understood a .that Ido not wish to limited thereto',jjsincemany modifications may =be'madeandPI thereiore; contemplate by' theappended claimsito cover'lall-;;"

and scope of my invention, Y

I claim as my invention: l. The process of making 'a'vehlcle wheelfrom adrop center rim which includes preforming a drop centeririm having abase flange slightly depressed at a point intermedlate its-dges, and"applying axial compressing pressure to the entire--- rim to collapseonly the depressed portionotsaid base flange. f if 2. The process ofmaking a vehicle'wheel from a drop center rim which includes pretormingasuch modifications as; fall within the true splrit' drop center rimwith the. basefiange wider than outer surfaces of the side walls of saidrim and a .that desired for the wheel to be fabricated, then intimatelyengaging and holding. theiinner and portion of the base flange of saidrim,?and-cau'slng an-axial compression force to be applied to the rim tocompress said rim axially wherebythe portion of said base flangewhich-dies between said held walls of said rim is collapsed.

3. The process-oi making a. vehicle wheel from 9. drop center rim whichincludes forming a drop; center rim including side flanges and a baseflangewider than that desired in-tth'e? wheel to 'be fabricated,intimately embracing and 'holding 65' each of the side flanges about itsentire circum' thereby providing a wheel body partwith a tireflo rimpart thereabout.

GEORGE aLBERT LYON.

